A Feral Mind

by Desperate Dawn

Rating: teen
Tags: Dark, Alternate Universe, Twilight Sparkle, Main 6, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Other, Adventure
Length: 5534

Escaped from captivity in Wolfian Kingdom, Ark ventured deep into the lands until he found himself at the borders of Equestria.

A/N:
Underway of a rewrite from the ground up!

Werewolves are known for its ferocity, and its urges to kill everything on its path, and was also known to isolate themselves from any interaction. However, this is untrue for Ark, the energetic, yet enigmatic Werewolf who wanted to join the King’s Guardian, a specially trained group of wolves that protects the Kingdom and its people.

Still, his life changed sooner than he thought as he found himself on the border of Equestria.

Published 2018-11-30 13:40:01 UTC
Last updated 2020-03-05 14:34:17 UTC

Chapter 1 (Rewrite)

A Feral Mind
Chapter 1

“Haaahhh,” Ark sighed tiredly, laying on the ground after another intense training session with his mentor, Resilience. She was one of the founders of the Order of Northesfur, an order where the best of the best of the King’s Guardian are selected and trained to be the Kingdom’s most elite of soldiers.

“Come now, get up,” Resilience said. Ark looked up to see a snow-white Great Wolf peering over him upside down.

“I’ve...just finished...twenty laps and...sparred against... you, Resilience,” Ark said between his breath. In all honesty. He didn’t mind this sort of training regime, but dear Fenrir have mercy on his soul, Resilience is brutal and seemingly has no mercy despite her saying that she’ll be easy on him.

Resilience rolled her eyes, that magenta eyes of her, Ark can see just how amused she was. It is no secret that her methods of teachings are considered... extreme. But, you can’t argue with the result, she shaped you to be strong and became an efficient hunter. That is what she is doing to him now, as he is the only Werewolf that was accepted to be part of the King’s Guardian.

“Can’t you at least... give me a moment,” Ark said tiredly. As he was about to close his eyes, he felt a sharp pain on his neck. Before he could comprehend what just happened, he found himself flying in the air and towards a tree, slamming hard at the thick wood. Ark let out a pained grunt as his back took most of the impact, he was sure he heard a crack of bones down in the line.

“Who said you can rest?” Resilience said, narrowing her eyes with a visible scowl. “You should know better when you're on training, Ark. I do not care if you’re a Werewolf, but if you were to doze off again, then you’ll probably in a lot more pain.”

The poor gray Werewolf staggered back to his paw, glaring at her. He could turn feral and lash out, that’s one of the traits being a Werewolf, the other being able to shift in size. But, he knew it wouldn’t do much against her.

“Oh don’t give me that,” she said with a roll of her eyes. “If you so wish to be a King’s Guardian, don’t complain.”

“I’ll appreciate it better if you don’t throw me like that,” Ark growled but it quickly came into submission as Resilience's glare seemingly pierced through his very soul. He lowered his head, his ears flattening on his head, “Sorry...”

Resilience sighed, placing a paw on her forehead, “Werewolves,” she muttered, shaking her head. “Come, let’s get moving. We’re going over your first field course, and I’ll think you’ll be enjoying it.”

Ark followed her, exiting the lush plains to the temperate forest before them. His earlier bruise bothers him for a while, but it didn’t deter his anticipation of what comes next. They both came to a halt on a nearby river stream. Resilience looked around for a moment before nodding to herself.

“Ark,” she addresses the light gray Werewolf, him quickly standing in attention. “This is where your natural hunting skills are tested. You already know the drill, find a scent, track it, and kill it.”

The way she casually told him that is slightly unnerving to the young Werewolf. He knew it was a common occurrence, but at least some wolf display a bit of emotion such as caution. With her, in the other paw, it’s completely non-existent.

Resilience walk upstream to find a favorable spot to lay down, Ark meanwhile could only stand there, staring at her, unsure what to do. Resilience noticed this and raised an eyebrow, “Well, what are you waiting for? You can go and hunt now.”

“Umm, shouldn’t you...uhh...” as his words drawn longer, Resilience sighed.

“One word, Ark; initiative.”

Ark let out an “Oh” and went on his way. Resilience can only shook her head as she lay down near the river, crossing both her front paws, watching the young Werewolf until he disappeared between the thick bushes of the forest. After she was sure that he could no longer hear her, she let out a long-suffering sigh.

“This is going to be difficult.”

Twilight let out a frustrating cry as her spell failed for the fourth time. “What did I do wrong? I’m sure the formula was correct.” Twilight refocused to the spell-book she was holding by her magic.

Twilight was having such a good day, Pinkie Pie’s party can do that to you, and she was also having such an absurdly amount of luck, she received a new book her parents shipped out, the book she was holding was courtesy of Princess Luna AND Princess Celestia herself are coming to check on her once again, mostly about the spell-book Princess Luna gave her to study and research it.

Oh, did she also mention that Princess Cadence also gave her a book about dating? Yeah, we’ve not need to dwell on that, both her brother and sister-in-law know she needed a direct encouragement to go out often.

So yes, she was having such a good day, until now, that is.

Twilight snorted, frustrated that she couldn’t find anything that went wrong, she was 100% sure the formula was correct. She put the book away on her shelf, coming up the stairs out of her basement/laboratory. She doesn’t want to ruin a good day with her being frustrated, therefore, she trots to the table where she kept the recently received books.

The first sight that caught her interest almost immediately was a book, a book that was about a kingdom filled with wolves in the far west of Equestria. The author was none other than Daring Do herself.

Twilight wasn’t ignorant of outside cultures, but if her idol, Daring Do herself, ventured far and found a new civilization that could potentially hold a new knowledge to be studied. You know Twilight will always jump on the knowledge train.

And so, she began her reading.

Ark lies down at one the thick bush the forest was bountiful of, concealing himself, and at the same time masking his scent with the recently ripe wild-berries. He stayed there, laying in silent, waiting for his prey to come by.

It didn’t take long for a gazelle, large and young, to come out and into the grassy plains at the center of his hunting ground. Ark waited for it to start grazing on the fertile grass, before moving forward, closing the distance between them ever so silently.

He was making good progress. He was sure the gazelle wouldn’t even see him coming. Resilience is going to be so prou-

CRACK!

His daydreaming was cut abruptly, as luck didn’t side with him in the slightest. Not only he stepped on a dry stick, he also in no position to lunge at the gazelle as the thick bush didn’t offer him the room for a spontaneous maneuver.

So, his thoughts were this: By Leto’s womb, I truly hate life sometimes.

The gazelle, knowing an imminent danger, immediately went into a full gallop, Ark following shortly after in a burst of speed only seen on a Werewolf’s alone.

Ark could keep up with the gazelle’s speed, but his agility is the only thing that kept him from catching one as fit as he was chasing. It weaved through the branches of the forest as if it had done this countless times. Ark meanwhile, was having difficulty. Sure, his sheer size and strength alone definitely outpowered a mere branch, but there were just too many to the point it slowed him down considerably.

And just like that, his catch was gone.

In frustration, Ark let out a roar, for the animals nearby it may seems something had angered something in which case it is somewhat close to the truth. For any other wolf, it was a pathetic roar filled with utter disappointment, and this was true for Resilience out by in the distance.

“He had much to learn,” she thought out loud as she ripped out the artery of the downed gazelle, putting it out of its misery.

To say that Twilight was beyond impressed is an understatement, what Daring Do had found is revolutionary! It’s not that Equestria never once saw any kind of wolf per se, they were a lot during ancient times. It was just that many thought they died out during the three tribes migration since the Wendigos froze much of the land.

With this discovery, Twilight was sure that wolves were no longer territorial as they once were, and, in fact, they banded together and migrate just like ponies are. Well, she assumed them to be anyway, the book wasn’t exactly clear about how the wolves come together.

The book describes that they possessed almost identical ruling system to Equestria, without an immortal that controls heavenly bodies most definitely.

She also knew about three primary types the wolves kingdom had; Gray Wolf, Dire Wolf, and Red Wolf, along with many other sub-species. What truly intrigues her, however, was the sub-species that is a rarity amongst the local populace; Werewolves.

It made the myth about Wereponies rather...questionable. The book didn’t have much to say about them due to their lacking appearance in public places. There is a well-known trait about them, however, which is the ability to shift their size at will. It is still unknown if a Werewolf were to bite another, then they become a Werewolf as well.

Of course, Twilight argued about that in her mind since this civilization Werewolf mayhaps misinterpreted as one of those myths that swirled amongst the general cultures of Equestria. There was just too much fanfiction about the well-renowned Unicorn mages, Majesty, being a Werepony, or the more unpopular ones, such as Princess Platinum or Chancellor Puddinghead.

She wouldn’t know for sure until she found out herself, but she’ll have to put that aside for now. There are things that she needed to take care of first.

Speaking of which, what time is it? Twilight glances over to a nearby clock, eyes widening as it almost noon, which is the kind of time Princess Celestia’s upcoming visit is about to be.

In panic, she teleported herself to the Townhall.

A female wolf walked alongside a path that follows towards the notorious hunting ground of the renowned Huntress of the Kingdom, Resilience. Her pristine gray fur groomed to its absolute best, none can match her beauty. Only the wealthiest nobles could perhaps compete with her, and even then, none would dare to challenge the daughter of the King.

Yes, this is Freya, one of the few top female Alpha material, and it was all because of her outstandingly sleek form and fierceness. Unlike many other wolf where ones underside perhaps a fair bit darker in shade of their fur, Freya had almost perfect blend in between. This, however, causes a fair bit of jealousy within the noble circles, especially with other female wolf.

However, she didn’t groom her fur because she was visiting those nobles, no, in fact, she only did it for this very occasion, which is to impress and potentially attract one particular Werewolf the mighty Huntress, Resilience, took charge of training.

Still, the Huntress was known to be very strict about her training regime, and to avoid confrontation with the Great Wolf, Freya must watch her tongue around her. No, not because of fear alone, it was the political consequences that could come by if she were to clash with Resilience. Even then, Freya was no fighter. The Huntress will surely best her in direct combat.

It doesn’t bode well with Freya going to her hunting grounds, but in the name of love, she’ll do anything to get to him.

After a while, Freya found herself on a greenfield complete with a nearby creeks, to the east, a temperate forest where both wolf would most likely be as they were nowhere in sight. Freya finds the biggest rock and sat there, waiting for the two to return.

Two hours she waits, and still no sight of them. Freya was getting restless, therefore laying her belly onto the cold, smooth surface of the rock. There wasn’t any sound but the calming blow of the wind, whistling on the quiet plains. Soon, she found herself asleep under the wind’s lullaby.

It wasn’t long before she heard the rustling of grass being stepped on, she was quite versed on picking up a distant sound, and when one more was heard approaching just nearby, she was ecstatic.

She opened one of her eyes, expecting the Gray Werewolf in question to appear, only that it wasn’t and was met by the scowling face of Resilience instead. Ark meanwhile, panted on the ground, completely exhausted. Few of the forest stick and leaves was stuck on his otherwise lively gray fur.

“What are you doing here?” Resilience asks as she scowled at Freya.

Freya calmly stepped down from the rock with full of her grace, mockingly smiled at the Great Wolf as she stared up the towering Great Wolf with confident. Resilience hardened her glare as both engaged in an endless staring contest.

She may look calm, but her mind was in a state of chaos as every part of her rational mind told her not to anger the Greater Wolf, much less challenging her.

“Well, to see the newest recruit of my Father’s Guardian of course.” Freya calmly said, holding her head high, much to the Huntress displeasure.

“Well, he is doing quite well if that what you’re asking,” Resilience said as she walked past her to sit on the rock Freya was occupying earlier.

“Now, now, no need to act like that, you should be honored of my brief visit here as I have other things to do.”

Resilience puffed a small stream of breath from her nose, obviously didn’t buy that statement. If she didn’t have time, why would she wait for them and even take a nap in the middle of it? Of course, the Princess is up to something.

Freya finally gets herself under control from her usual act, she didn’t wish to incur her wrath and so wisely left her alone as she walk up to Ark. His ear perked up and stared up at the approaching royalty, he staggered a bit but manage to go to a respective stance.

“Princess Freya,” he addressed her in full attention.

“At ease, dear Ark, it is only a pleasant visit, and therefore, you’ve not need to be so formal to me,” Freya said with a sweet smile, batting her eyelashes. Her subtle approach is in vain as Ark didn’t even noticed it.

“Of course, Princess,” Ark hesitates. “Can I help you with something?”

Suppressing a twitch on her eyes at her failed approach, Freya waved her paw, “Ah, no need to concern yourself, as I said, a pleasant visit to one of my Father’s Guardian.”

Ark nervously laughs as he scratches the back of his neck, “It is an honor, Princess. But, I’m no Guardian’s yet, I am still far off to reach that position.”

“I’m sure you’ll reach it eventually,” Freya assured him, then her eyes glanced over to Resilience. “Unfortunately, I must conclude my visit today as I have other things to do.”

“Well, about time,” Resilience said, too loudly for Freya’s increasing anxiety towards the Great Wolf. “We’re about to start our next training session. I thank you for visiting us, Princess Freya.” Freya’s calm façade almost broke as Resilience jumped from the rock towards her, landing a few inches with a hard step. Freya inconspicuously gulped as she bid the two goodbye, Ark returning her gesture afterward.

Freya was sure she almost wet herself then and there. The path towards romancing the young Werewolf is going to be a difficult one.

Chapter 2 (Rewrite)

3 Months later

Resilience never liked Council Meetings, one of the reasons why is that she saw no use of them except during War times. However, this one is different as the leader of the Order, Benevolence, called upon all the founders to discuss something.

She technically could refuse, but how can she, when this particular Great Wolf is the one that led the five during old times? All five, including Resilience, respect him considerably. He is, after all, apart of the King advisors, and one, if not the wisest of them all.

Still, she did not like the topic of the upcoming discussion, particularly about the recent rebellion that broke out. Even if she could pull the others away from that topic, it would come up eventually. So she shall confront it head-on.

“My lady Resilience, are you alright?” She turns to her retainers on her right, almost matching in the Great Wolf's height, coating a fur of light gray with an orange symbol on his upper muzzle. A look of concern etched across his feature.

The symbol itself is a circle with six waves, almost akin to a sun symbol. The center of the circle bare, only decorated with a wolf's head baring its teeth.

Resilience smiled, “I am fine, Leichte, just a little worried.”

“Is it about the rebellion?” The retainers on her left asked. Resilience turned to see the dark brown Dire Wolf with a cyan symbol on her lower muzzle. She was the smallest within the two, but still larger by a slight margin on the average.

“Well, sort of,” Resilience sighed. “I’m worried about Ark. After all, the mastermind behind that rebellion is a Werewolf.”

The two retainers looked at each other, their face etched in worry as the three continued on the hallway. Before long, they’ve finally arrived on a door marked with the symbol of the Order. Resilience took a deep breath and opened the door.

The room was spacious, a long table stood at the center with six seats, and up above, hangs a single crystal chandelier. At the edge of the table, sat an old, but fit gray Great Wolf. His features spoke wisdom and experience as he gazes upon Resilience with a warm smile. Unlike any other of the founder, he had two indigo-colored symbols engraved on his muzzle side by side.

On his right, sat Brilliance, a dark orange Great Wolf with golden-colored symbol on his muzzle. He stared at Resilience neutrally, not a single emotion visible, yet, behind all that, hides his thirst for knowledge, and held an unsurmountable amount of ambition on his eyes.

Beside him, sat a crimson Dire Wolf with a dark blue underside, Courageous. He had an orange symbol on his muzzle, and he was one of the few who proudly showed their scars. One that truly stands the most was the large gash etched horizontally across his muzzle.

Sitting across, sat the most notable scholars of the Kingdom, Illustrious. He was midnight blue Great Wolf with shades of gray, and a cobalt symbol decorated with a few runes on his forehead. He was, and by far, the greatest the Kingdom has to offer as he is the leading figure on technological research. Resilience never once met him on a personal level. Only Brilliance and Benevolence had met him personally in his quarters.

“Ah, Resilience, I am glad that you could make it.” The Great Wolf Benevolence, greeted.

Resilience returned his smile. “It has been a long time, Benevolence, how are you?”

“I am fine, my dear,” he looked around the room, “Faith is the only one who hasn’t come yet it seems, however, I’d like to start this meeting swiftly and delay no longer.”

Resilience silently took her seat beside Illustrious, who greeted her with a nod, hers doing the same as she sat down, her companions standing behind her.

“What is need to be discussed, Benevolence?” Brilliance asked.

“Have all of you heard of the recent rebellion?” All four nods. “Well then, as all of you may already guessed. The rebellion incurred because the Werewolves leading them hates our government system. Therefore, to prevent further defiance, harsh punishments and precaution are enacted.”

Benevolence looked at Resilience, studying her reaction, and, as he expected, she was distraught. She skillfully hid it, and only those who searched for it that could see through her mask. He let out a sigh as he continued, “However, two had evaded capture and quite possibly already in hiding, either within the Kingdom, or has fled the borders. Either way, the King does not want to take any chances.”

“As such, all Werewolves were to be detained and placed on temporary holdings until this crisis is over. I ask for all of you to participate, in case of…unforeseen insurrection.”

“Great Benevolence,” Resilience suddenly spoke out, “I have to object to this decision, surely there is another way.”

Benevolence nods in understanding, “There is a way, however, I cannot do anything as the King’s orders are final.” Resilience looked down with a flattened ear. “I understand your concern, Resilience, as it directly involves your ward, and believe me, I do not want any member of the Order to be apprehended as well.”

“Still, it is interesting to have a Werewolf within our ranks.” Illustrious thought out loud, earning quite a paw-full of hums from the others.

“Be that as it may, but he is not yet a full-fledged member of the order,” Brilliance stated firmly.

“A member or not, young Ark might be, mind that he is under the guidance of one of ours,” Benevolence interrupted, Brilliance opened his mouth to argue, but no word came out of him. Begrudgingly, Brilliance crossed his paw in defeat.

“Now, is there any of you who wishes to speak your mind?” None answered him. “Very well then, this meeting is concluded.”

Ark tapped his paw on the ground, growing anxious as he waited in front of Resilience’s chamber at the Castle. He never went to the King’s Castle before, but he knew something must have happened, Come on, he is IN the Castle, and the Castle is such a big deal. Only important wolves or those with connections can enter. Well, he is under the tutelage of one, but he cannot help to feel that he’s unworthy of even stepping a paw on this wondrous hall.

As he waited, he heard the sound of heavy steps coming from beside him, looking over, he saw two heavily armored guard approaching him and taking position behind him. He first assumed them as one of the Castle patrols, but they stood there as if guarding him.

Before Ark could even wonder why, the door of her chamber opened, revealing his mentor and very well familiar gray wolf he comes to an acquaintance in his months of training.

“Ah, you’ve come at last,” Resilience said, her words somewhat bitter and grim. Ark had to wonder why she sounded like that, something is wrong, and he can sense it.

“Master, what’s going on? I’ve come as quickly as soon as you called,” Ark noticed that the guards around him took a battle stance as if preparing something to happen.

“Please Ark, come with us peacefully, and I’ll explain everything,” Princess Freya said, with an unusually sweet voice, almost sultry in tone.

Ark cringed, something truly is wrong, he turned to his mentor for answers yet, she remained silent. “Do what they say, Ark,” she emotionlessly said.

Ark relented and nodded at his order. “As you wish.”

“Great,” Freya exclaimed happily, too happy for his taste. “Now, just be a good wolf, and I’ll explain everything when we arrived.” She, along with the two armored guards, escorted him along the halls. He looked back to stare at his mentor’s. She was staring blankly on the ground before she closed the chambers.

The group continued, heading to an even unknown halls of the castle. The way they positioned themselves indicates that they weren’t protecting him, but instead limiting him. Ark remained silent as the Freya hummed something about her plan being perfect for a wedding.

Before long, they arrived on an old oaken door, the hinge's corroded as to indicate its aging condition. When Freya opened the door, there Ark realized what was happening. They were on the dungeon, six cells sprayed across on the dark hallway with a door that lies at the end of the hall. One has an occupant. It was another Werewolf, one that he recognizes the most.

“Brother!” He exclaimed, running past Freya as he stops in front of his brother’s cell.

“You’ve come willingly?” he snorted in disgust, “I know you’re a weird one, but I did not expect to know that you’re foolish as well.”

Ark, with a restraint growl, turned to the Princess who led him here. She smiled, ever so sweetly as the cell door across his brother’s opened. “I meant no offense, my dear, but I assure you I have my reason,” she gestured for Ark to enter. “I explain once you get yourself settled.”

Begrudgingly, Ark entered, turning to face her as the cell door closed. “Okay, talk.”

“I cannot believe you foolishly believe that she would talk,” the Werewolf opposite of them said. One of the guards then smacked the iron bars with his iron bracelet.

“Be silent!” He barked, on which the Werewolf complies.

Freya rolled her eyes as she fixated herself on Ark, still with her sweet smile that bothered Ark’s nerves. “I must say, Ark. Your brother, Cruise, is such an interesting fellow.”

“You can stop with your advances, Princess, he is rather far too dense to acknowledge yours.” Cruise snarked, earning him another smack on his cell bar.

Freya turned to give him an annoyed glare. She then returns to Ark shortly after, ”Now, where were we?”

“The explanation of you putting me in the dungeons?” Ark inquired with a slight hostility.

“Ah, yes,” Freya clapped her paws. “You see, Ark, it is because-“

The oaken door slammed open as a guard entered, “Princess Freya, the King needed your presence in the throne room immediately.”

“Never a dull moment,” she muttered, “I’ll be back, my dear, sit tight.” She turned to the guard, exiting the room followed soon after with her guards, leaving the two Werewolves to contemplate their fate as the door slammed shut.

“Well, isn’t this fantastic, Ark?” Cruise sarcastically said, moving closer to the edge of the cell. “Are you still foolishly believe that wolves like them can be trusted?”

Ark looked around in his cell, like Cruise, it only had a bed, three bookshelves, a table, and a toilet, all of which have seen a better day. Ark started to wander around the cell as his brother continues on his rant, each insult or mock he didn’t heed.

Cruise stopped on his rant to stare at his brother's bizarre behavior. "What are you doing?"

“Looking for a way out,” is his answer. It doesn’t convince Cruise in the slightest. He had already looked for a way out, a vulnerable part of the cell, but nothing that he can use to escape.

“I already looked for one, the bars enchanted to hold out against a Werewolf, your efforts are futile Ark, give up.” As his words are left ignored, Cruise snorted and head to his small bed.

“If we can’t find a way, then we’ll make our own,” he heard Ark said, turning around just in time for Ark trying to dismantle a piece of iron from the bed.

It wasn’t long for Ark to rip out a piece of iron bar from the bed frame. Its old age made it considerably weaker than it was supposed to. Ark grabbed it on his mouth, heading over on the cell door lock, placing it on the keyframe.

Cruise can only raise an eyebrow on what he’s doing, observing him as he measured the position of the bar at the keyframe. He seemed to also look inside the lock for a reason Cruise couldn’t comprehend.

CLANK

Ark rammed the iron bar at the lock as hard as he could, resulting in the lock to forcefully unlock itself. He grinned in triumph of what he had achieved. As he was about to help his brother, he heard him growl.

"Not. Another. Step!" Cruise barred his teeth.

Ark flattened his ear, "Bvuh whay?" His sound muffled by the piece of iron on his mouth.

"I will not be helped by the noble's lapdog, even if they were once family. I will escape on my term."

Ark spit out the bar to the side, "Brother, forget your pride. We can help each other." He pleads.

Cruise scoffed, turning around and sat on the corner of his cell, ignoring Ark's offer. "Just leave me be, Ark."

The young Werewolf undoubtedly heartbroken by his brother, alas he cannot convince a stubborn, determined wolf like him. Ark moved the iron bar closer to Cruise's cell, in case if he changes his mind. "If you need to find me, I'll be heading east."

Ark walked up to the opposite end of the door, looking back for a moment before he opened it.

It led to an open yard, which is unexpected. He previously assumed that he was underground. He needed to pay attention to his surroundings more. To his luck, it leads to the partially garrisoned section of the wall.

The castle built around a series of forest, to the east of the castle lies a vast forest that stretches further into the horizon, a perfect place to evade his pursuer. With any luck, he may be able to avoid them since winter should come soon in a few days.

Ark didn't think long to move. With a burst of speed, Ark raced towards the stairwell, ignoring the shouts from the guards. Two stood on his way, but with a mighty jump, he went over them and the walls. He looked down to realize that he miscalculated the height of the walls, but in conclusion, it was too high.

"Oh, Fenrir, give me your strength to survive this," was his last word before screaming as he fell to the depths of the forest.

The door to the dungeon slammed open, a somewhat happy expression of the Princess confirmed Cruise suspicion. However, as she rest her gaze upon him, her eyes widened, and anger quickly replaced the previous one.

"Inform the Guard Commander that a very important Werewolf has escaped. Tell him I need his best tracker, this instance!" The voice of Princess Freya died down as she left the room after realizing that one werewolf remained in his cell.

Cruise chuckled in amusement. He was rather glad that his intuition was correct when the blasted Princess put him on the dungeon specifically made for political prisoners. Then, not long after, a familiar Great Wolf entered the dungeon. He recognize her as Resilience, one of the greatest huntress the Order of Northesfur could offer. And, one of his old friends.

She looked around the dungeon for a moment, noticing the opened, empty cells then, to the not empty one.

"He did not release you?" She asked Cruise, one that he answered with a smirk on his face.

"I'll do anything to save my siblings, even if I elected to stay behind to rot."

"How noble of you," Resilience said, stepping forward to inspect the iron bar lying on the ground. "So you knew all along?"

Cruise shrugs, "When you lots sedated me by the time of my relocation here, so, yes, I do." Then he glared at her, "I expect that Illustrious fellow had his first Werewolf as a test subject?"

"I highly doubt you could feel that rune," she said with a frown.

Cruise once again shrugged. "I may not be able to feel it, but I am capable of smelling a runic works at play."

"You do realize what would entail, yes? After all, you accepted the deal with the Princess, and she most likely would not take it lightly."

Cruise simply rests his body on the floor, still with his smug smile of his as he held his head high. "Well, we Werewolves values Loyalty, after all. Family comes first."

Resilience shook her head, "You still are calm as always, even in the face of imminent death. You still haven't changed, huh, old friend."

"Hey, I still owe you for saving my fur back at the battle of Fostfallen. It is the least I can do to enhanced Ark's survival. For both of our sake."

Resilience closed her eyes, placing a paw on his cell bar. A solemn and saddened expression on her face as she express her final exchange, "Farvel for alltid da, gamle venn."

"Farvel for alltid, Indrid." He replied, connecting his paw with hers.

Author's Note

The words at the end are Norwegian, which respectively meant:
"Farewell forever then, old friend."
"Farewell forever, Indrid."

Do apologize that I use Google Translate on this to capture the somewhat nordic settings. I don't know, it sounded appropriate in my head.
And yes, Tracking runes is a thing.

-Desperate out